Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
February 25, 2015
News release
China influence seen as strong, positive in Tanzania
China has a greater influence on Tanzania than any other country and is a preferred model
for Tanzania’s future development, the latest Afrobarometer survey suggests.
Tanzanians see China’s economic and political influence on Tanzania as mostly positive, the
survey shows. But only about half of Tanzanians say that Chinese assistance does “somewhat
of a good job” or “a very good” of meeting Tanzania’s needs.
Chinese business investments and investments in infrastructure are leading factors
contributing to China’s positive image in Tanzania, while perceptions of Chinese products
contribute both positively (related to their cost) and negatively (related to their quality) to
China’s image in Tanzania.
These results come at a time when China’s economy and global profile have been growing,
along with its demand for natural resources, which may have implications on the dynamics
of longstanding Tanzania-China relations.
Key findings

Four in 10 Tanzanians cite China as the country with the greatest influence on
Tanzania, followed by the United States (31%) (Figure 1).

Seven in 10 Tanzanians (70%) say China’s economic and political influence on
Tanzania is “somewhat positive” or “very positive” (Figure 2).

About half (51%) of respondents say China’s economic development assistance does
“somewhat good job” or “very good job” of meeting Tanzania’s needs (Figure 3).
Afrobarometer
Afrobarometer is an African-led, non-partisan research network that conducts public attitude
surveys on democracy, governance, economic conditions, and related issues across more
than 30 countries in Africa. Five rounds of surveys were conducted between 1999 and 2013,
and Round 6 surveys are currently under way (2014-2015). Afrobarometer conducts face-toface interviews in the language of the respondent’s choice with nationally representative
samples of between 1,200 and 2,400 respondents.
The Afrobarometer team in Tanzania, led by REPOA, interviewed 2,386 adult Tanzanians
between 26 19 August and October, 2014. A sample of this size yields results with a margin of
error of +/-2% at a 95% confidence level. Previous surveys have been conducted in Tanzania
in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008. and 2012.
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Charts
Figure 1: Country or entity with the most influence | Tanzania | 2014
40%
China
31%
United States
6%
South Africa
5%
United Kingdom
4%
India
International organisations
1%
None of these have much influence
1%
12%
Don't know
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
Respondents were asked: Which of the following do you think has the most influence on Tanzania, or
haven’t you heard enough to say?
Figure 2: China’s influence: Positive or negative? | Tanzania | 2014
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
70%
Somewhat
positive/very
positive
9%
8%
Somewhat
negative/very
negative
Neither positive nor
negative
13%
Don't know
Respondents were asked: In general, do you think that China’s economic and political influence on
Tanzania is mostly positive, or mostly negative, or haven’t you heard enough to say?
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Figure 3: Does China’s assistance meet Tanzania’s needs? | Tanzania | 2014
60%
50%
51%
40%
30%
20%
14%
18%
10%
15%
1%
0%
Somewhat
good job/very
good job
Neither good Somewhat bad China doesn't
nor bad job
job/very bad
give
job
development
assistance to
the country
Don't know
Respondents were asked: In your opinion, does China’s economic development assistance to Tanzania
do a good job or a bad job of meeting the country’s needs, or haven’t you heard enough to say?
For more information, please contact:
Stephen Mwombela
REPOA
Telephone: +255 22 2700083
Email: [email protected]
Visit us online at:
www.repoa.or.tz
www.afrobarometer.org
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @Afrobarometer.
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